Dodgers @ D’Backs June 29, 2015: Remember Allen Webster?

Man, Allen Webster starts tonight for the Diamondbacks against the Dodgers. Remember him?

Dodgers

D’Backs

6:40 p.m.

Phoenix, Az.

CF

Pederson

CF

Pollock

2B

Kendrick

LF

Peralta

3B

Turner

1B

Goldschmidt

1B

Gonzalez

RF

Tomas

RF

Puig

3B

Lamb

LF

Ethier

C

Castillo

C

Grandal

2B

Owings

SS

Rollins

SS

Ahmed

P

Bolsinger (R)

P

Webster (R)

Webster was an 18th-round pick by the Dodgers in 2008 and quickly rose through the organization, ranking as Baseball America‘s No. 49 overall prospect (and second for the Dodgers, behind Zach Lee and seven spots ahead of Joc Pederson) headed into 2012. Of course, we never saw Webster pitch for the Dodgers; he was traded as part of the package headed to Boston in the huge Nick Punto trade of 2012. At the time, I didn’t mind the financial risk, but disliked that actual pitching talent in Webster and Rubby De La Rosa were included. (Pretty sure I wished that Chris Withrow had gone. Shows what I know.)

It hasn’t gone well for Webster, though. He got into 19 games for the Red Sox in 2013-14, showing some pretty serious control issues (4.6 BB/9), not enough missed bats, and allowing far too many homers. In three starts with Arizona after coming up so Josh Collmenter going to the bullpen, he’s… had some pretty serious control issues, hasn’t missed enough bats, and has allowed far too many homers.

He will, of course, hold the Dodgers to one run over seven innings.

It’s a lesson, though. When you’re mad in a month that the team traded Grant Holmes or Jose De Leon, remember how volatile pitching prospects can be. Not Julio Urias, though. He’s a guaranteed sure thing. I WILL NOT HEAR OTHERWISE.

… and considering the nosedive Ethier has been in lately (.190/.253/.345 over the last month), it’s not at all hard to see that changing by the time Crawford returns. I know Don Mattingly has said that Ethier will remain the starter and Crawford will be the backup in left — which is awkward at best since they’re two lefties who don’t hit lefties — but Ethier’s got to show a little something soon to make the manager stick with that. A big night against Webster, who has allowed lefties a career .279/.388/.470 line, would be a good start.